In 2024, Railbookers, an expert in planning rail vacations throughout the world, put together the dream itinerary for any train-travel enthusiasts: an 80-day trip covering 13 countries on the world’s most iconic and luxurious trains. The Around the World by Luxury Train trip, as it is known, which generated huge interest and many bookings despite its price, departed on August, 28, 2024.
Photos: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
This 12-Country Trip on the World’s Most Luxurious Trains Takes 59 Days
In fact, the 2024 Around the World by Luxury Train itinerary was such a success that Railbookers decided to plan another one for 2025, this time a little shorter, but just as exciting.
In 2025, the Around the World by Luxury Train trip will last 59 days instead of 80, and will span 12 countries on four continents instead of the 13 covered on the 2024 itinerary. That said, the trains and destinations on the schedule are just as appealing — if not more.
“Our 2025 Around the World by Luxury Rail itinerary has been refined and tailored to maximize our guests’ time and experiences while enjoying the culture, cuisine and activities that each of these renowned destinations have to offer,” explains Railbookers President & CEO Frank Marini in a press release.
The 59-day itinerary of railbookers’ Railbookers’ Around the World by Luxury Train. Photo: Railbookers
Much like with the 2024 itinerary, the 59-day train journey, departing on September 5, 2025, will start in Vancouver, Canada, for a two-day scenic ride on Canada’s only luxury train: the Rocky Mountaineer. The next opulent train on the itinerary is no other than the iconic Royal Scotsman on which you’ll spend three nights exploring the wilds of Scotland, starting in Edinburgh, the capital, and going all the way to the Highlands. After a quick flight to the European continent, you’ll board the brand new Dolce Vita Orient Express for two nights from Rome to Venice and Portofino before traveling from Verona to Paris, and then from Paris to Istanbul on the most expensive, and the most famous train in the world: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. After crossing Europe, you’ll travel, around India on the Maharajas Express, in South Africa with Rovos Rail, and finally around Malaysia and Singapore on the Eastern & Oriental Express. The trip will end in Singapore.
The 2025 edition of Railbookers’ Around the World by Luxury Train trip includes a total of 21 nights on board trains and 32 nights in luxury hotels. Excursions and visits along the way promise to be as fantastic as the train rides and include a private tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome, a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, a jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park, dinner and a show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and much more.
While a lot shorter than the 2024 itinerary, the 2025 Around the World by Luxury Train trip is more than $10,000 more expensive: starting at $124,150 per person instead of $113,599. In spite of the cost, however, before the 2025 itinerary even went on sale, there were more than 500 people on the waitlist. A sign that demand for train travel, which has been high in the past two years, is showing no sign of waning. 